March 2015 Surgery Sisters

Options
1…1112141617…19

Comments

  • breastfriend2u
    breastfriend2u Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2015

    Scheduled for BMX with TE and reconstruction on April 10. Brand new to this site( 10 minutes new)

    Hope surgery went smoothly for you Philly Emma and all others venturing down this road.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • alhowell
    alhowell Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2015

    First ever post. My surgery was last week, looking forward to hearing more.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited March 2015

    breastfriend2u Hi, I happened to be reading this thread and see where you and I have the same surgery on the same day! So, we will be starting down this path together. Let's keep in touch and compare recoveries. Hopefully, we will both do great. There is an April Surgery Sisters Thread under the Surgery Forum (I think that's it). We can post there. Lynn


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Valentine99
    Valentine99 Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2015

    Glad everyone that has their surgery is doing well. Mine was Wednesday and I came home yesterday. I'm having a hard time remembering not to reach for things. I'm afraid I'm going to pull something or overuse my muscles. I got a peak at my chest when my PS changed my dressings before I left the hospital, and I still look pretty puffy at the top. Not sure if that is swelling or the tissue expanders.

    How long were you told not to drive? He said no driving but didn't say how long.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • farmerjo
    farmerjo Member Posts: 518
    edited March 2015

    Hi Valentine...glad you're doing well. I admire the women who are able to post shortly after their surgeries. It was daaaays before I felt up to it.

    I am 6 weeks post-op and still have swelling at the top. They say it can take up to 6 months. I was never given any instructions when I left the hospital...nada. I started driving when I felt comfortable, and that was 4 weeks. It wasn't so much that I didn't think I had the range of motion, but my fear of getting into an accident. You should go in for follow-up in the next week or so - ask about it then.

    Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    Valentine, glad to hear you're doing so well. When I had my BMX they said no driving until you're not taking any narcotic pain meds. Once off of them, I waited at least 3 weeks so range of motion was good. The hardest part was the seatbelt at first. Looking back, it was probably 4 weeks before I drove for the first time

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ladyduffer
    ladyduffer Member Posts: 40
    edited March 2015

    Thank you PMR/Patty.  I wish you well with your results.  The waiting is certainly hard on the nerves.  Looks like we had the same chemo cocktail.  I have 2 drains and DH helps me empty about 3 times a day.  I have follow-up appt. with PS on Wednesday.  I am hoping to get drains out at that time, but of course depends on how much they are still draining or not draining.  You have a good weekend as well.

    Prayers to all.

    Jacquie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Cindy_K
    Cindy_K Member Posts: 52
    edited March 2015

    Hi Valentine, I was told not to drive when I left the hospital and then was advised not to drive if I was still taking narcotics. Although I had been off the narcotics getting in and out of the car was hard enough without adding the stress of being behind the wheel. I will say that on the 3rd week I HAD to drive to pick up my son.. It was both sore and scary. You just don't realize how much ou use your chest muscles! Good luck to you :)


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2015

    I had swelling for several weeks after my first surgery - you will be very swollen for first few days and weeks out of surgery. You will still be swollen even when you think it is all gone ;)

    Driving - instructions to me were no driving while on narcotics and only when I felt capable without hurting myself or others. I was off narcotics in 3 days, but did not drive until 3 weeks, and even then it was a very short drive. Even with power steering it was an effort to turn the wheel (several small turns of wheel to make what would normally take me 1-2 hand movements) and no way would I have felt confident in evading an accident or someone running out on the road, etc. I was fine by 4 weeks though to commute back and forth to work.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Susie23
    Susie23 Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2015

    I have just found this site tonight and it looks like I'm really going to love it. I am 52 years old. A year ago I had to have a wire guided biopsy on the right side. The results were negative. This year at the end of January I went in for my 6 month mammo on a Monday. Tuesday while at work I recieved a phone call saying the radiologist who read the mammo and ultrasound could see a very small spot and for me to come back on Wednesday for more of both. Naturally I had to go in for a needle core biopsy, this was on a Thursday and on Friday evening I got the dreaded call telling me I had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. That weekend was horrible because when the doctor said the C word I think I went into shock and didn't ask any questions. I didn't even know what he had called it. After more mammos and an MRI I was given the option of mastectomy or lumpectomy. I chose lumpectomy and radiation. My surgery was performed on March 17 which was 11 days ago. The incision on my breast has not bothered me and the one under my arm hadn't until about day 7. It has since turned red and feels like a huge knot under my arm. Parts of my upper arm and armpit still feel numb. I occasionally having stinging or burning feeling in the numb area.I'm just wondering if this seems normal or if any others on here have experienced this type of thing. I hope I've worded all of this ok. Thanks ladies.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited March 2015

    hi all, I'm scheduled for a lx (left) ,reduction and lift bilaterally, SNB and ALND on 3/31. I've had chemo since last August--just finished three weeks ago, most of my chemo was given when pregnant with twins. Finished eight weekly taxols after they were born, but now fighting a sore throat that I'm praying doesn't turn into a bad cold pushing my surgery back. I'm feeling very scared for the procedure, and for the path report, as we weren't able to stage it since I was pregnant. They think it was somewhere between a 2 and a 3 at initial Dx. At least a node involved at the beginning, we'll see what we are in for. I'm going back to read how you all,have been doing since you started this thread. Good luck to those next week, and healing thoughts for those of you done already

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2015

    Welcome Gatomal! It is all very scary but you have definitely gone through the worst of it already! You will fly through this and be looking at it in your rearview before long! Be gentle with yourself both emotionally and physically until then. Hugs Amy


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited March 2015

    hi Amy! Are you enjoying your muffins you made today? Hope you are feeling better

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2015

    Today has been good as far as recovery goes from my exchange. I am really in very little pain. My drains are the worst part. I looked at my new girls and they are a little weird looking...not the same size and where my cleavage should be is weird. I'll let things settle though. It just feels good to be done for now...other than nipple recon and areola tattooing oh and of course hormone therapy. It's really weird to be done though. Like what do I do now? First I'll finish healing....then I can wax philosophical I guess... Lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Valentine99
    Valentine99 Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2015

    Welcome Susie23. I just had my surgery on Wednesday. I have numbNess under one arm too . I'm glad you are recovering so well.


    Welcome Gatomal. Having twins is stressful enough. I can't image dealing with cancer on top of it. Take all of the help you can get and don't let yourself get to run down. You want to enjoy the early months as much as possible.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2015

    Too many muffins Gatomal but chocolate is one of my many weaknesses. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2015

    It's great to see so many of you recovering and reporting good results! I lag hued to see the driving question. I miss the independence of driving. I hate having to ask people for help! I have one drain gone, and I'm hoping to lose the rest this week.

    Rest and recover, March ladies

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2015

    laughed, not "lag hued". Geez, I can't even type. Maybe I shouldn't be thinking about driving!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • eaglemom
    eaglemom Member Posts: 76
    edited March 2015

    Hi March surgery sisters,

    I'm glad you made it through the Lx and SNB ok althoiugh it sounds like it was pretty scary, Heather. I'm sorry you have to wait so long to get results. I hope to get some results when I go back to see my surgeon on Tuesday. It took about 8 days after my biopsy, so he might have something back by then. Waiting for results is some of the hardest.

    I hope you get used to your new cleavage, DiveCat! You've been through enough that you shouldn't have to worry about what others think. The only thing that's important is how you feel about yourself.

    I hope you don't have to keep those drains too long, Amy. I've only got one, but I'll be very glad to be rid of it. Enjoy those chocolate muffins!

    I'm glad you got a little bit of sleep PhillyEmma. For me, the night before surgery was the hardest as well. I hope your surgery went well. Let us know how you're doing when you can.

    I'm so glad your surgery went fine Valentine99 and that you got to go home yesterday.

    I'm so glad everything went well on your fist follow-up appointment, NYtoTXbaby. Sorry you have to have the drains for another week, but I'm glad you're doing well and looking good.

    I hope your follow-up appointment went well also, Cindy_K. I agree with all of you, the emotional healing takes a lot longer than the physical, but we can get through it one day at a time.

    Congrats on the clear path report, Jacquie (ladyduffer)! That's wonderful news. I hope you're able to get at least some of the drains out on Wednesday.

    I'm glad your surgery went well and you're feeling positive, elisewin. I hope you can enjoy the visit with your mom!

    Welcome breastfriend2u and mysunshine48. I wish you all the best for your upcoming surgeries on April 10th.

    Welcome also to alhowell. I hope your surgery went well and you're recovering nicely and I wish you the best in your future treatments, if any.

    Welcome to the board,Susie23. I'm 52 as well and I had a right modified radical mastectomy and a left prophylactic mastectomy on March 23rd. My recovery is going great, but I also have the numbness and occasional stinging/burning all around my right armpit where they removed 3 lymph nodes. I don't have any redness or swelling there and wonder if that may be a sign of infection? Do you have a follow-up appointment scheduled for soon?

    Welcome Gatomal. I'm so sorry that you had to go through treatments while pregnant and caring for new babies, but I hope they were effective in beating back the cancer. I used to live in the SF Bay area too.

    I'm very independent as well, LRGinger, and will also be glad when I'm able to drive and ride my bike again. I hope you loose the rest of your drains this week too!

    ERNurse and Rebecca; Wishing you both all the best for your surgeries on Monday. My prayers will be with you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2015

    susie23, I had left sentinel node removed March 3 and it's still bothering me. I had swelling for about 2 days and surgeon said it was nothing. It did hurt too. My incision is bothering me. I put a wad of gauze between my skin and bra. It makes all the difference. I hope you find relief soon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2015

    LRGinger, you made me laugh! I was trying to figure that out. That's Where my head is at.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PhillyEmma
    PhillyEmma Member Posts: 47
    edited March 2015

    Hi ladies,

    Thanks for all the well wishes.

    I'm home from surgery. It's uncomfotabe right now as I'm on one Perocet at the suggestion of my surgeon. But at 9 I et another dose and think I'll be doing 2 pills so I can sleep as comfortably as possible. Clearly the last two nights in the hospital were every hour of blood drawn blood pressure check etc.

    sentinel node biopsy prep wasn't terrible. BS numbed me before putting in fluid so didn't feel it. PS eneded putting in 150cc saline in each TE. Haven't looked and don't plan on it. Not ready. Need it to heal a bit before I can. But that's just me. Nurse comes tomorrow to help shower and change dressing.

    4 drains in. Now I know how a cow feels with utters. Thank God for camisoles with drain pockets. So much better than what the hospital had!

    BS said my nodes looked good. We'll get the report in 1-2 weeks. Fingers crossed!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ERNurse21
    ERNurse21 Member Posts: 15
    edited March 2015

    surgery went well today! Ended up doing bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction. Also placed my port for chemo. I'm pretty loopy from the medications but overall feeling well

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gypsyjo
    gypsyjo Member Posts: 304
    edited March 2015

    ERNurse21 - Glad things went well and you are feeling well. So far so good!


     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CatsRus
    CatsRus Member Posts: 310
    edited March 2015

    So now I guess I get to join the April Surgery Sisters too... going to have ALND on April 16. 1 of 2 Sentinel nodes was positive, not enough to warrant leaving them alone so back in to check out more. Results came in that I am ER+ and PR+ but still waiting on HER2. CT abdominal scan was clear...yeah! I worried about my lungs because I've had a cough for a bit. I wasn't too worried about the bone scan (not sure why not I've worried about everything else) I was having today but when they sent me for x rays afterwards, I panicked. They needed x rays of my lower spine and right upper arm. Now my stomach is in knots again. Am I ever going to not feel scared? I had a fall last October when I was on vacation in Jamaica, turns out I cracked three ribs that have healed nicely :-o They asked if I hurt my arm at the same time but I don't remember my arm being sore. I think my lower spine may well be arthritis, it has bothered me for years and my mother had it there also

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    ERnurse, glad you're feeling good. Are you home already?

    Catsrus, sorry you have to go back in, that stinks! At least maybe you'll be a bit healed up and can handle the second surgery more easily.

    I had my follow up with PS today. She removed stitches (glad I didn't know ahead of time that was happening) and my first fill is scheduled for next Monday. I'm finally starting to see light at the end of this long tunnel.

    Hope you're all doing well, resting and taking care of yourselves.

    Gatomal, looks like you're up tomorrow, I'm thinking of you

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AndreaC
    AndreaC Member Posts: 220
    edited March 2015

    Hi all - just found this thread, glad I did! You can add me to the March surgery sisters...I had my BMX with SNB on March 26. I had bilateral BC - ER/PR positive in left breast, triple negative in right. Spent two nights in hospital. Doing fine...on Tramacet for pain, it seems to do the trick. My surgeon says that the nodes were small which is a good sign, we will wait for official biopsy results...

    My whole chest is numb. I get sharp excruciating pain under my left arm radiating to the back if I move the wrong way. My right side is a lot better. I have four drains, which I won't get out until I see my surgeon on Apr. 8! They are already driving me crazy.

    I am so glad to have it over with, now the ball can start rolling re further treatment - chemo & radiation. It will be an interesting year for sure.

    Andrea

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gypsyjo
    gypsyjo Member Posts: 304
    edited March 2015

    Welcome to the thread, AndreaC. Many of us are glad that first big step is over. I hope your recovery comes along smoothly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited March 2015

    go ERnurse! Keep the meds going. Sorry catsrus. Hate to go in again, hope everything is all clear. Sorry about all the drains Andreac. That's a lot, sounds like you're hurting too. Hoping you feel better each day that passes. Good for you hummingbird lover that you got your stitches out.

    I am up tomorrow. Had a low fever of 99.5, fighting a bit of a sore throat, but think it more from nerves. I ran upstairs to try and get my sentinel node injection early, before my radiation oncology appointment not after. Got in in the nick of time, then ran downstairs for my first consult with the rad onc. She's "world famous", but how can a lay person tell who is a good rad onc and who is awful? It like that Seinfeld episode and mechanics. You need a Johnson rod. Sure I do! Anyway, can't pick up my babies tonight due to the radioactivity, so I grabbed their little hands from far away. Can't wait to get surgery behind me, and a good path report back. Fingers crossed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gypsyjo
    gypsyjo Member Posts: 304
    edited March 2015

    Best of luck tomorrow Gatomal. You have had a long wait to cross over like the rest of us. We will be thinking of you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories